History of the 382nd Bombardment Group (VH)
June 1945

The following is a retyping of part of the official history of the 382nd Bombardment Group (VH), in its monthly report provided for June 1945. This history is taken from AFHRA Microfilm Roll B0372, starting with frame 1536. Each page from the report is separated by a horizontal rule. All but the appendix of documents is provided.

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I. PERSONNEL

     During the month of June the strength of the unit did not undergo any appreciative change. The group was getting in the latter phase of training and personnel positions were gradually becoming more stable than at anytime during the history of the group. There was still some switching between crews in an effort to concentrate the best possible men for the different positions into the lead crews of each squadron.

     There were no changes of consequence in the group Table of Organization during the month of June.

     As of the 30th of June, the units of the 382nd Bomb Group (VH) contained the following personnel: 1/

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1/ WD Form 127, Parts I and II, dated 30 June 1945 (Headquarters Squadron, 33rd Photo Lab, 420th Squadron, 464th Squadron, 872nd Squadron)

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     When compared to the 31st of May, these figure show a decrease of six officers and an increase of twenty three enlisted men. The decrease in officers was caused by the transfers of officers who were surplus in their MOS. The increase in enlisted men was a result of obtaining men to fill a few existing shortages and men to fill out our 2% overage.

     Of the assigned personnel of the Group as of the 30th of June, 10 officers and 32 enlisted men were on temporary duty at other stations. The marked decrease in personnel when compared to recently monthly reports is due to the fact that our units are not longer training at our Carribean Base, APO #632, and our men have all returned from this base. The few men of TD are attending service schools, mostly Radar.

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II. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

     The only major change in the organizational setup of units of this group took place in the 872nd Squadron. This change consisted in appointment of a new Operations Officer; Major Royal Hatch, Jr. replaced Major Lester C. Bush as operations officer for the 872nd Squadron. Major Hatch recently reported to the group from the Eastern Training Command. Major Bush transferred over as an AC of a crew in the 872nd Squadron.

     The Organizational Chart of the 382nd Bombardment Group (VH), SHAAF, Salina, Kansas as of 30 June 1945, is as follows:

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     During the latter part of the month, movement orders for the ground echelon were received. The "Air-Ground breakdown" had been completed earlier; designating men by number and MOS to be air or ground echelon. The break down was made with the thought in mind of completing the training of the air echelon with as few personnel as possible. Of necessity almost all the S-3 sections of Group and Squadrons were to remain with the air echelon as well as a skeleton organization S-1 and S-2. In the S-4 section, most of the supply personnel were designated as ground echelong while the maintenance personnel were to remain with the air echelon.

     The ground echelon was placed under the command of Lt. Colonel Henry Burr, Jr. group executive officer, who will be assisted by the squadron executive officers. A rigid training for the ground echelon was put into effect. As a morale booster, a part of this program included a four day pass for each member of the unit.

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     Also during the latter part of the month, the Group received notice that the group would move to Harvard Army Air Field, Harvard, Nebraska to complete its training. This move would bring about many complications since all unit equipment (TAT) was packed, crated, and stored at SHAAF, and the ground echelon, almost ready to move out, would have its training program interrupted. After negotiations with higher headquarters it was decided the stored equipment and ground echelon personnel would remain here at SHAAF while the air echelon would move to Harvard during the first week in July and complete their training there.

     On June 28th, 1945, Colonel Audrin R. Walker, Group Commanding Officer, accompanied by his staff and section heads, visited Harvard Army Air Field. They were greeted by the CO of the Harvard Base and shown the training facilities to be used by the group after moving to Harvard. A conference was held and problems common to the base and group were discussed. The delegation from the 382nd Group left Harvard imbued with the idea that the base personnel at Harvard would be most helpful and cooperative with the group once it had reached Harvard.

III. TRAINING

     The month of June showed much progress in both flying training and technical training. All training was still aimed at completing the AAF and 2AF minimum requirements and getting into the post phase training as[...next page]

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compiled by the group. 2/

     As shown by the charts, a large part of the minimum requirements, especially in technical training, have been completed. A nuber of courses in the post phase training program were begun. The major part of the flying training not completed as yet consists of Radar camera bombing missions, three thousand mile navigational flights, and Radar tail gun missions.

     The first two weeks of the month completed the training at our Carribean Base, APO #632. The 464th Squadron was the last to use this base for training. Although the training at this base was not as complete as first hoped for, much valuable experience was gained. Each squadron received a months training under almost field conditions, and as a result, each squadron and especially the staff of each squadron became a much closer knit unit.

     For the past three months and more the three squadrons rotated in training at the Cuba base, and as a result, the three squadrons were never together at one time for unit training[...next page]

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2/  1. Chart, 382d and 383d Bomb Groups (VH), Subject: Comparison of Accomplishments, dated 29 June 1945
     2. Chart, 2AF, Subject: Crew Progress Chart - Technical Training (VH), dated 29 June 1945
     3. Chart, 2AF, Subject: Crew Progress Chart - Flying Training (VH), dated 29 June 1945
     4. Chart, 382d Bomb Group (VH), Subject: Percent of Flying Time and Missions Completed, dated 29 June 1945
     5. Chart, 382d Bomb Group (VH), Subject: Percent of AAF Minimum Requirements Complete, dated 29 June 1945

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as a group. Up until the middle of this month each squadron had been trained as an individual unit; there had been felt the need of merging the three squadrons and training them as a group rather than as individual squadrons. It was decided by the CO and his group staff that in the future the training from a group stand point would be stressed as much as possible.

     As has been mentioned before, every effort was made during the month by the group and squadron staffs to place the most proficient crew members in the lead crews. This resulted in the switching of some crew members, especially among the navigators, bombardiers, flight engineers, and CFC gunners. The greatest importance is being stressed in the selection and training of lead crews.

     The plan for our "fourth phase" (included in last months history) went into effect as minimum requirements were met. It is planned to go automatically into fourth phase training subjects as AAF and 2AF minimum requirements are met.

IV. MAINTENANCE

     When the overall flying time was considered as the main factor, maintenance was better during this month than any previous period. There were more ships in commission and a higher flying time per ship in commission than any time before. This showed up in records of total flying time and in missions completed.

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     The better maintenance was attributed to two factors: 1. A reorganization of base maintenance personnel. 2. The acquisition of serveral new planes. Also the fact that all maintenance was being done at [S]HAAF during the latter half of the month instead of part at the base in Cuba.

     In the reorganization of the base maintenance personnel, most of the key officers were transferred to other bases and replaced by maintenance peronnel sent in by 2AF Headquarters.

     The return of all the ships and maintenance personnel from Cuba tended toward better maintenance. Each man will be allowed to go back his specialty again, and become part of a smooth working and efficient organization.

V. SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT

     During the month the supply sections was mainly concerned with packing and crating of supplies for overseas shipment. Many additional items were procured to aid the group to go immediately into action after reaching our overseas destination. The whole idea of obtaining TAT equipment was to equip the group with such items to aid the group to function as a tactical unit on the earliest date possible after reaching the overseas station.

     Several procurement trips to obtain morale and club equipment were made to eastern cities. The aid rendered by[...next page]

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Lt. Harris, the SHAAF PX Officer was invaluable in obtaining this equipment. Through him many items were located and the necessary priorities were obtained.

VI. FACILITIES

     The physical set-up of the Group hs not been changed during the month.

VII. MORALE

     Although the morale of the 382nd Bomb Group has always been high, this month showed an improvement over any other period. Our long period of training was drawing toward a close and many results were noticed. The fact that the group was together again for the first time in several months was another boost to morale.

     The following is a report from the Group Officer of Special Service:

EDUCATION

     During the past month Special Service has made a drive to enroll as many Enlisted Mean and Officers in the USAFI courses, with excellent results. There have been an average of six men a day coming into the Special Service office and enrolling for these courses.

RECREATION

     The Group's Enlisted Men's Club threw one of the biggest parties the base has ever seen. It was held at the Salina Memorial Hall, and USO hostesses from Salina, McPherson and Wichita were present. The music was provided by a Wichita band and entertainment eminated from the men of the Group.[...next page]

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There was a tremendous quantity of food, free, and it was the unanimous opinion of all present that it was one of the best parties ever given.

     The Group Special Service Office was able to procure a thousand zippo type cigarette lighters for the men of the group and every lighter was sold the first day they were in. The Special Service Officer was also able to secure $300.00 worth of records from a private collection which included both classical and popular records. Another project which is being handled by Special Service is a Group Camera Club which has at the present over one hundred members. This club will function overseas. Special Service is tring to procure film of every size, also enlargers and other photographic material.

     There is very little doubt that the supplies for the Enlisted Men's Club and the Officer's Club will make this the best equipped group ever to go overseas. The majority of these supplies are in and have already been packed and shipped.

     The soft-ball league leading champs are, at the present time, one of the group teams. Many good times have been had and the competition is exceedingly keen.

ORIENTATION

     During the past month orientation has had some very [???] discussions and the men seemed to have enjoyed these lectures more more than the usual run of the mill orientation lectures.

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ENTERTAINMENT

     This past month has been devoted to the rounding up of men who can entertain in any way shape or form and the talent rosters are long and have excellent material on them.

     The band instruments have been shipped and the group is looking forward to having one of the best bands in the wing.

This is the end of the June 1945 report for the 382nd Bomb Group (VH).

Return to the tribute page for the 382nd Bombardment Group

Transcribed by Kevin Anderson on 2 January 2006
Last corrected 12 June 2006
Original typographic errors were left in.
All remaining transcription errors are my own.